SOB and Stadler today signed a contract in St. Gallen for the delivery of twelve additional FLIRT trains. These vehicles consist of 7 eight-car, copper-coloured FLIRT multiple units, called «Traverso», and 5 four-car, silver-coloured FLIRT trains. The trains are characterized by innovation and comfort. The high-quality, eight-car long-distance «Traverso» trains have 359 seats, 68 of which are in first class (2+1 seating). All seats are equipped with power outlets. Travellers can eat in the two bistro areas and a designated family area is also available. The trains meet the most recent European legislation regarding equal access for disabled persons, and have an information system with at least four and up to seven screens per car. SOB will operate the uniform long-distance «Traverso» trains on the Voralpen-Express route between St. Gallen and Lucerne from 15 December 2019, on the Gotthard mountain route from 13 December 2020, and between Chur and Berne from mid-December 2021. A total of 34 new trains for SOBSOB ordered six eight-car and five four-car electric low-floor multiple units from Stadler at the end of June 2016 in order to be able to replace its older compositions, some of which had been in operation for 40 years, when the timetable changes for 2019. The eight-car trains will run on the Voralpen-Express route between St. Gallen and Lucerne, adding to the quality and comfort of the journey through the Pre-Alps. The four-car multiple units can carry 197 passengers, including 22 in first class, reinforcing the existing FLIRT fleet used in regional transport. From 13 December 2020, SOB will also operate the new «Traverso» in cooperation with SBB on the long-distance line from Basel or Zurich over the Gotthard mountain route to Locarno. In December 2017, SOB exercised an option to order eleven additional eight-car «Traverso» long-distance trains for the route. Chur-Zurich-Berne is the second line that SOB will operate on behalf of SBB. SOB is exercising a second option with the delivery contract signed today for seven additional eight-car «Traverso» long-distance trains and five four-car FLIRT trains.